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Skincare Hot Takes: The *Only* Products Worth Your Money. From a Picky Thirty-Something Year Old w/ Acne-Prone Skin That’s Aging *Gracefully* 😜
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items I’ve tried 90% of what TikTok screams about—here’s what *actually* works for acne, wrinkles, and that ‘glow’ everyone lies about having. No fluff, no sponsorships, just brutal honesty. 💅
Sections
7
Face Wash (Cleanser)
Essences (🐌Snail Mucin & Beyond)
Liquid Exfoliants
Serums
Treatments
🧴Moisturizers
Face Wash (Cleanser)
The *one* step you’re probably messing up. Stop stripping your skin—here’s what cleans without wrecking your barrier:
Hot Take: It won’t magically shrink pores, but it *does* keep my skin balanced—no tightness, no residue, just clean.
Gentle Skin Cleanser - Face & Body Cleaner
Hot Take: Does the same job as the $38 Fresh Soy Cleanser. Fight me (not really) 😅
Cerave Cleanser
Hot Take: The only foaming cleanser that doesn’t make my acne worse. *Chef’s kiss* for oily skin.
Toleriane Purifying Foaming Facial Wash
Essences (🐌Snail Mucin & Beyond)
Hot Take: Yes, it’s snail slime. No, I won’t apologize for my baby-soft skin. 10/10 would bathe in this. 😂
COSRX Snail Mucin 96% Power Repairing Essence 100ml
Viral K-beauty essence with peptides for extra firming. 87% similar to COSRX!
JUMISO - Snail Mucin 95 + Peptide Facial Essence
Hot Take: 95% snail mucin for half COSRX’s price? Skip if you hate tacky textures.
peach slices blemish busting toner
Hot Take: Calms redness so fast, it’s like an *ER visit in a bottle*. Skip if you hate *too much* hydration (lol).
Anua Heartleaf 77 Soothing Toner pH 5.5
Liquid Exfoliants
Pro Tip: Use it *before* serums. It’s like a ‘pore vacuum’ for better absorption.
Hot Take: Yes, it’s worth the hype. No, you don’t need a ‘dupe’—this lasts 6 months.
Paulas Choice SKIN PERFECTING 2% BHA Exfoliant
Hot Take: Too strong for daily use—but *perfect* for your armpits (yes, really). 😅
The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner
Serums
Serums are where the magic happens. Don’t waste money on anything else until you’ve nailed these:
Hot Take: If ‘glass skin’ had a baby with a water balloon, this serum would be its mom. *Cheaper than SK-II, too.*
Torriden DIVE IN Hyaluronic Acid Serum 50ml
Hot Take: Outperforms my $100 vitamin C serum. The niacinamide glow is *real*.
Olay Super Serum - Niacinamide, Vit C & E
Hot Take: Smells like candy and works like a dream. Skip if you hate fragrance.
Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA + AHA Salicylic Acid Serum
Hot Take: DE’s version is *69 freaking dollars*. Naturium’s $22 emulsion works *better* for my rosacea. *Drops mic.*
Naturium Azelaic Acid 10% Face Treatment
Treatments
The *emergency room* of skincare. Only use these when stuff gets real:
Hot Take: Works *only* if you don’t pick at your zit first. Discipline = clear skin.
Mighty Patch: Beauty & Personal Care
Hot Take: The secret weapon for redness. Better than prescription for *mild* rosacea.
10% Azelaic Acid Booster
🧴Moisturizers
Your moisturizer shouldn’t just ‘hydrate’—it should *repair*. These do both:
Hot Take: The $18 bottle fixes what your $200 night cream can’t. Niacinamide + ceramides = cheat code.
CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion
Hot Take: Yes, it’s expensive. Yes, I’d sell a kidney for it (j/k). The glow is *illegal*.
Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream Plumping & Hydrating Refillable Moisturizer
🎭 FACE MASKS
Hot Take: Feels like peeling glue off your face… but dang if it doesn’t *erase* pores by morning.
medicube Collagen Overnight Wrapping Peel Mask
Hot Take: The *only* clay mask that doesn’t turn my face into the Sahara. Oily skin? Mandatory.
Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask
Celeb-loved for ‘mirror skin’ glow. Wear it for 3 hours or overnight!
Biodance Bio Collagen Real Deep Mask for Pore Minimizing & Firming Care